Series with multiple authors

[Wiggo]

How do you mark/tag series with different authors?

It happens to me very often that I completely overlook the fact that the series contains several authors. I know I can search for books in that series, but I often just forget.

And then when I read the series I realize - whoops, there are books missing because the last ones are from a different author.

[Bookstooge]

Just add the authors? The "author" field can contain multiple authors after all. Death Gate series by Weis and Hickman is what I think of in this situation.

Oh, you mean like a series taken over by another author, like the Mitch Rapp series that was started by Vince Flynn, then when he died Kyle Mills kept writing them? Ahhh.

I guess I always look at the series vs the authors though. Even if I initially start by author, I'll click on the series to make sure...

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by Wiggo

How do you mark/tag series with different authors?

It happens to me very often that I completely overlook the fact that the series contains several authors. I know I can search for books in that series, but I often just forget.

And then when I read the series I realize - whoops, there are books missing because the last ones are from a different author.

I do nothing special entering data into Calibre. Once my books are entered, I simply click on the Series name to filter to only that series. So different authors become a non-issue as the books are listed regardless.

When I am about to embark on reading a series, I research the books in the series before I start.

Once I have a complete list of the books in the series and related series, I add them into Calibre, whether I have the ebooks or not. Some may be entered as stub entries only (purple items in the image). To me it is important that the books are ordered by story timeline, so they will be added and numbered that way.

I can then start reading in confidence that I have listed all the books and they are in correct order and not kick myself after realising there is a prequel book that I never knew about.

I also combine multiple series into one when the author, for some reason, breaks them into multiple series eg The Saga of Seven Suns which is followed by The Saga of Shadows or The Rho Agenda: Inception, The Rho Agenda and The Rho Agenda: Assimilation.

And for those books in the series I don't have, I'll wait before purchasing to see how much I enjoy the books I do have. No need to waste money on books in a series that I am not enjoying. (as evidenced in the image)

[theducks]

That is why filing series on your device by Author is not a good idea.

I have quite a few 'series' that:
1) passed the baton to others . Pern, Darkover, Dune

2) belong to a shared universe, where the authors vary issue to issue or the fans contribute (official)

In some cases I include in Authors xyz (creator)...

[theducks]

BTW I would love a User Needed trap plugin for Add Books for when the flip condition exists. Different Author and really a different series.

When I discover an (overused. eg Magic) series name, I use the Authors initials to tie-break.

What I would like is the Add to pause and ask for help if any of the previous saved) Author(s) for that series (base) does not match.
If the is a match, adjust the series name (my plan) and auto go.

[ownedbycats]

Although I usually search the series, depending on series I've added the original series author to the books where they weren't involved.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Although I usually search the series, depending on series I've added the original series author to the books where they weren't involved.

That was why I chose (creator) as opposed to just the originators name.
Paul Preuss did Venus Prime, (6 books) which was based upon characters in a short by Arthur Clarke

[Wiggo]

I figured there was no way around "similar series", but I found this: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...3&postcount=95

So I can display all authors of a series in the BD.

[Wiggo]

short after note

To be on the safe side, I added an additional symbol in #series if there is more than one author (thx @chaley).
This also shows up for double authors, but it doesn't matter. I hope it's foolproof for me now

program:
	if list_count($#series_authors, ',') > 1 then
		'series_authors.png'
	fi

@Karellen
I thought about the dummies you mentioned, but after one try I finally realized that I don't like blank entries